Gender lessons in NSW high school text spark criticism of ‘gender propaganda’

Controversial lessons contained with a Year 9 personal development Health textbook in NSW have been questioned as “ideological”.

A NSW high school text book that teaches that sex is “assigned” at birth, that students need to “interrogate” their own relationship with their sex and use “pronouns” to “validate” someone’s identity” has been criticised for “indoctrinating” children into “gender ideology”.

The Year 9 Health textbook, handed out to students at a private independent school in the Lower Hunter Maitland area, also claims that “Having a vulva doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a woman and want to use women’s spaces like bathrooms”.

The personal development lesson in the text book also teaches that “ … up until recently, it was widely believed that if you were assigned ‘male’ at birth, you were a boy and would grow up to be a man”, but goes on to say these ideas are “constantly shifting”, along with how people behave.

“Having a penis doesn’t mean you must perform the role of man (sic) or behave in a masculine way,” the school textbook advises.

Terms such as “cisgender”, “genderqueer”, “agender”, “gender fluid” are introduced in the lesson, which instructs students that it’s important to use the “correct language” when referring to someone’s identity and to avoid “misgendering them”.

Upper House One Nation MP Tania Mihailuk is concerned about gender lessons being taught in NSW schools “Why would we want any school want to lead kids down that painful path?” Image: Joel Carrett

But an upset parent has contacted the school to complain about the lessons and gender critical feminists say the material could have “grave ramifications” for the lives of children who end up becoming gender confused.

Upper House One Nation MP Tania Milhailuk said schools had become “hotbeds of activism”.

“This focus on gender identity and sex is a yet another example of schools overstepping their role,” she said. “They have lost focus on what their job is and they’re churning out children ill-equipped even with the basics of literacy and numeracy.

One of the pages of the Year 9 Health textbook provided at a NSW independent school in the Hunter Valley.

One of the pages of the Year 9 Health textbook provided at a NSW independent school in the Hunter Valley

“Our education standards have never been lower and this is what we are expected to tolerate.

“Trying to suggest that you can alter your gender without consequence is wrong.

“Transitioning can have dire side effects including infertility, and cause huge regret when these kids reach adulthood and potentially realise their discomfort with their bodies was simply a natural part of growing up.”

Women’s Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong said the material was “unscientific and untrue” and “ideological propaganda”.

Women’s Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong is concerned about the material in the school text, saying it speaks about not “reinforcing stereotypes, when that is exactly what gender ideology does”.

“It is ideological propaganda like this that has contributed to the sharp rise in confused children presenting with gender dysphoria, particularly young girls,” she said. “If an authority figure, like a teacher, teaches children about ‘gender identities’, the next thing they are going to wonder is, ‘what is my gender identity?’ And of course that’s exactly the intention of the activists.

“Parents should be outraged that their children are being indoctrinated with this nonsense, which is not only unscientific and untrue, but could have grave ramifications for their lives.”

Child and Adolescent Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg says educating children about sexuality and gender helps prepare them for the real world and it’s healthy “to have a discussion”.

“After 30 years as a child and adolescent psychologist, it seems evident that society’s view on these matters is evolving, whether it’s because of social influencers on TikTok, better sex education or the legalisation of same-sex marriage, my clients are part of a generation whose members feel more able than any before them to express or question their sexuality and/or their gender,” he said.

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), which covers curriculums for all schools, including private schools, says “gender fluidity” is not specifically referenced in the NSW Personal Development, Health and Physical Education syllabuses.

“We do not endorse resources developed by external organisations or individuals,” a s spokeswoman aid.

“It is a matter for schools and teachers to source and select externally available materials to support their teaching and learning programs.”

Public schools in NSW do not use that particular textbook, a NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said.

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